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side louvers or side grilles?

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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 01:39 AM
  #1  
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From: Gummersbach/Germany NRW
Default side louvers or side grilles?

Hello,
I am having my 71 vette painted on Monday. I want to have the side louvers chrome plated instead of painting them. Does any one know what matrial they are made of? From the feel of them I would say, high pressure zinc cast. I can chrome them myself if this is the case. I feel silver and chrome will have a nice contrast.
Has anyone seen a vette like this?
Thanks

PS. What are these things called anyway???
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 01:53 AM
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Hi Wayne,
Although it's your car and you can ultimately do what suits you, I've seen several that have stripped the paint off the side grills to go with the chrome look. These car usually look unfinished and incorrect. The grill loses its definition and fine lines the designer was originally displaying. Instead they end up looking heavy/bulky and out of place for the clean side lines of the C3.
Good luck whatever you decide to go with,
Greg

Last edited by Greg; Feb 23, 2006 at 12:11 PM.
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 02:36 AM
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Hello Greg,
thanks for your input. That is a (new) aspect i had not considered. I also like to keep it original as far as possible. I have a sickness still lingering from my cobra (replica) where I could do whatever I wanted. I suppose the grilles were always painted in the car color. Is this true?
Thanks again, Wayne
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 03:34 AM
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I agree with Greg, I have seen this done before and it always seems as if they just bought the grills and forgot to paint them.

Its your car though do what makes you happy!
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 12:10 PM
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Wayne,
Yes, it should be painted body color with just the trim outer edges and the edges across the grill squares left in chrome.
Best,
Greg
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 05:04 PM
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When I bought my '71 years ago they had been painted black and don't look right. I am about to restore it and will ensure they are painted correctly, because they really make a difference in the side appearence of the car.
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 05:53 PM
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Please paint them back the way they came it will look much better.
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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Greg
Wayne,
Yes, it should be painted body color with just the trim outer edges and the edges across the grill squares left in chrome.
Best,
Greg
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:02 AM
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and to make matters more complex
each year 70,71,72
the edge of the eggcrates was
unpainted different for each year
example 70 only the horizontal
71 vertrical
72 both
i'm sure i have these all mixed up
but i like all the thin edges void of paint
my ..02
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:13 AM
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I've seen what everyone else is talking about - unpainted side grills. But I've never seen them chrome plated. They have always been just polished and not nearly as chrome-looking as real chrome.

I think they might look good chromed. Maybe you could arrange with the paint shop to hold back some paint. You could try the chrome first. If you find out that you don't like the look, you can use the left over paint to paint them back.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:35 AM
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Originally Posted by KW
and to make matters more complex
each year 70,71,72
the edge of the eggcrates was
unpainted different for each year
example 70 only the horizontal
71 vertrical
72 both
i'm sure i have these all mixed up
but i like all the thin edges void of paint
my ..02
Hey Kevin, where did you get that info?
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 08:05 AM
  #12  
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When i had my 70 repainted i was
checking out a tech arcticle on the
70 corvette registry site.
i do not see the article now
but i sure if you contact them they
will know
http://corvetteforum.net/c3/1970regi...0registry.html
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:05 PM
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How did you guys paint them without getting the edges?, was it just alot of tape or did you get the paint off after painting.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 72-LT1
How did you guys paint them without getting the edges?, was it just alot of tape or did you get the paint off after painting.

just pint them normallly and sponge wipe of paint from the edges, just like on finned valve covers


tim
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